SpaceX continues to send Starlink satellites into space at a rapid pace, having launched 14 payloads with 840 satellites in the first 5 months of the year alone.
It is with that impressive launch cadence the company expects to have global internet coverage by September.
SpaceX president Gwynn Shotwell revealed the timeline while speaking at the Macquarie Group technology conference on Tuesday.
“We’ve successfully deployed 1,800 or so satellites and once all those satellites reach their operational orbit, we will have continuous global coverage, so that should be like September timeframe,” she said. (via Reuters)
While the coverage will be in place by that time, that doesn’t mean Starlink will be able to offer global internet service. Shotwell added that obtaining regulatory approvals in countries around the world would be the next hurdle to cross.
“But then we have regulatory work to go into every country and get approved to provide telecoms services,” she added.
The 1,800 satellites currently in orbit is still a long way from the company’s eventual goal of having more than 12,000 in space.
Earlier this year the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved an accelerated plan by SpaceX to begin deploying satellites at a lower orbit of between 540-570km above the earth.
